IP Library Granted Patent US 11,808,013
Granted Patent B1
US 11,808,013 · App. 18/144,290 · Granted Nov 7, 2023

Systems, methods, and controllers to enhance heavy equipment warning

Inventors: Kyle D. Jordan (Findlay, OH); Nicholas L Schimmoeller (Findlay, OH); George M. Lixey (Findlay, OH)
Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
E02F9/226B60Q1/2611B60Q1/2615E02F9/2004E02F9/24E02F9/26B60Q5/005E02F9/2066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,808,013
App. No.
18/144,290
Granted
Nov 7, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods to activate one or more indicators, positioned on heavy hydraulic-based equipment to provide indication that the heavy hydraulic-based equipment is in an operation are described herein. The system may include a hydraulic initiation lever positioned proximate an operator's seat of the equipment and configured to be actuatable to an inactive position and an active position, the hydraulic initiation lever when in the active position configured to generate an unlock signal to thereby enable hydraulic operation of the heavy hydraulic-based equipment. The system may include one or more indicators configured to receive the unlock signal, the one or more indicators configured to activate in response to reception of the unlock signal and to deactivate in response to no reception of the unlock signal.

Claims (28)

1. A method to change an operational state of one or more indicators positioned on hydraulic equipment to provide warning that the hydraulic equipment is in an operation mode, the method comprising:

initiating a power-on status of a power source of the hydraulic equipment; and

actuating a hydraulic initiation lever from an inactive position to an active position, the hydraulic initiation lever positioned proximate an operator's seat of the hydraulic equipment and proximate hydraulic operation controls, the hydraulic initiation lever connected to a fixed location within a hydraulic control box and connected to an additional lever, at least one of the hydraulic initiation lever or the additional lever to prevent entry and exit into a cabin of the hydraulic equipment when the additional lever is in the active position, the additional lever to depress a switch when the additional lever is in the active position, the switch connected to the power source, the proximate hydraulic operation controls, and one or more indicators, the switch includes a circuit between the power source of the hydraulic equipment and the proximate hydraulic operation controls when the hydraulic initiation lever is in the active position, thereby to activate the proximate hydraulic operation controls, and the switch also includes a circuit between the power source of the hydraulic equipment and the one or more indicators, thereby to cause the one or more indicators to change from a first operational state to a second operational state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators includes a light, and wherein the change from the first operational state to the second operational state includes one or more of:

an activation of the light,

a change in a color of the light,

an activation or deactivation of a strobe output for the light, or

an alteration of a frequency of a strobe output for the light.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the hydraulic initiation lever is in an active position, actuating the hydraulic initiation lever from the active position to the inactive position to cause the switch to open, thereby to disable hydraulic operation controls and to cause the one or more indicators to change from the second operational state to the first operational state, and wherein when the hydraulic initiation lever is in the inactive position, one of (a) all operation of the hydraulic equipment is disabled or (b) hydraulic operation of the hydraulic equipment is disabled.

4. A method to change an operational state of one or more indicators positioned on hydraulic equipment to provide warning that the hydraulic equipment is in an operation mode, the method comprising:

initiating a power-on status of a power source of the hydraulic equipment; and

actuating a hydraulic initiation lever from an inactive position to an active position, the hydraulic initiation lever positioned proximate an operator's seat of the hydraulic equipment and proximate hydraulic operation controls, the hydraulic initiation lever connected to a fixed location within a hydraulic control box and connected to an additional lever, at least one of the hydraulic initiation lever or the additional lever to prevent entry and exit into a cabin of the hydraulic equipment when the additional lever is in the active position, the additional lever to depress a switch when the additional lever is in the active position, the switch connected to the power source, the proximate hydraulic operation controls, and the one or more indicators which include one or more lights, the switch includes a circuit between the power source of the hydraulic equipment and the proximate hydraulic operation controls when the hydraulic initiation lever is in the active position, thereby to activate the proximate hydraulic operation controls, and the switch also includes a circuit between the power source of the hydraulic equipment and the one or more indicators, thereby to cause the one or more indicators to change from a first operational state to a second operational state and so that the one or more lights illuminates.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the change from the first operational state to the second operational state includes one or more of:

an activation of the one or more lights,

a change in a color of the one or more lights,

an activation or deactivation of a strobe output for the one or more lights, or

an alteration of a frequency of a strobe output for the one or more lights.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, when the hydraulic initiation lever is in an active position, actuating the hydraulic initiation lever from the active position to the inactive position to cause the switch to open, thereby to disable hydraulic operation controls and to cause the one or more indicators to change from the second operational state to the first operational state, and wherein when the hydraulic initiation lever is in the inactive position, one of (a) all operation of the hydraulic equipment is disabled or (b) hydraulic operation of the hydraulic equipment is disabled.

7. A method to change an operational state of one or more indicators positioned on hydraulic equipment to provide warning that the hydraulic equipment is in an operation mode, the method comprising:

initiating a power-on status of a power source of the hydraulic equipment;

actuating a hydraulic initiation lever from an inactive position to an active position, the hydraulic initiation lever positioned proximate an operator's seat of the hydraulic equipment and proximate hydraulic operation controls, the hydraulic initiation lever connected to a fixed location within a hydraulic control box and connected to an additional lever, at least one of the hydraulic initiation lever or the additional lever to prevent entry and exit into a cabin of the hydraulic equipment when the additional lever is in the active position, the additional lever to depress a switch when the additional lever is in the active position, the switch connected to the power source, the proximate hydraulic operation controls, and one or more indicators, the switch includes a circuit between the power source of the hydraulic equipment and the proximate hydraulic operation controls when the hydraulic initiation lever is in the active position, thereby to activate the proximate hydraulic operation controls, and the switch also includes a circuit between the power source of the hydraulic equipment and the one or more indicators, thereby to cause the one or more indicators to change from a first operational state to a second operational state; and

when the hydraulic initiation lever is in an active position, actuating the hydraulic initiation lever from the active position to the inactive position to cause the switch to open, thereby to disable hydraulic operation controls and to cause the one or more indicators to change from the second operational state to the first operational state.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more indicators includes a light, and wherein the change from the first operational state to the second operational state includes one or more of:

an activation of the light,

a change in a color of the light,

an activation or deactivation of a strobe output for the light, or

an alteration of a frequency of a strobe output for the light.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein when the hydraulic initiation lever is in the inactive position, one of (a) all operation of the hydraulic equipment is disabled or (b) hydraulic operation of the hydraulic equipment is disabled.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: JORDAN, KYLE D.; SCHIMMOELLER, NICHOLAS L.; LIXEY, GEORGE M.
To: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
Reel/Frame 063562/0131 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17848429 · Jun 24, 2022
Provisional Application 63364179 · May 4, 2022
Cited By (12)
US 12,195,158 US 12,195,861 US 12,203,401 US 12,203,598 US 12,297,965 US 12,359,403 US 12,384,508 US 12,485,389 US 12,546,245 US 12,597,151 US 12,709,808 US 12,716,379